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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><br>
</span><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation
Department</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-variant:small-caps;
color:black'>News Release</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>May 26<sup>th</sup>, 2010</span></i><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></u></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Contact: Lindsay Vidrine</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Phone: 405-230-8414</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Email: Lindsay@TravelOK.com</span><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Norman
Hotel and Conference Center Earns </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>First ECO
Platinum Certification</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>National
Center for Employee Development Is Most Sustainable Facility in State</span></i><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>
Oklahoma’s largest hotel and conference center has become the first
property to earn the highest sustainable travel certification offered by ECO
– <i>Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma</i> – the state’s
premiere sustainable travel program.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The National Center for Employee
Development, located off State Highway 9 in Norman, earned the Platinum Travel
Standard certification by meeting set criteria and implementing sustainability
programs. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Hardy Watkins, Oklahoma Tourism
& Recreation Department executive director, said the NCED is a good
sustainability practices model for all conference centers.</span><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>
</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>“Since NCED is the largest
conference facility in the state, its environmental impact is
significant,” Watkins said. “By implementing sustainability
programs and joining ECO in our conservation efforts, NCED is not only helping
Oklahoma reduce its carbon footprint, but is also providing a benchmark that
other large conference centers around the nation should seek to meet.”</span><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>NCED began implementing green
programs about seven years ago, said Yves Badaroux, NCED general manager.</span><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>“Going green makes perfect
business sense, and can be a significant driver of guest satisfaction, as well
as associate engagement,” Badaroux said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Some of the sustainability
efforts include using environmentally-friendly laundry and cleaning products, recycled
office supplies, low-VOC paints and converting the chlorine pool and spas to
salt water. In addition, an herb garden is planted every year, and food scraps
are donated to the Little River Zoo.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>During a renovation in 2009, more
than 64 tons of wall vinyl and carpet were recycled. Between 2008 and 2009, the
facility reduced gas consumption by 18.3 percent, and began using glass water
bottles, which eliminated the use of 80,000 plastic bottles a year.</span><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>
Since 2009, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department and Department of
Environmental Quality’s ECO Certification program has promoted, developed
and encouraged sustainable tourism throughout the state. ECO Certification
requires applicants to meet set criteria and be reviewed by a national
certification board. A certification level of silver, gold or platinum can be
awarded, based on the level of sustainable practices the applicant chooses to
implement. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) is working
to advance the exceptional quality of life in Oklahoma by preserving,
maintaining, and promoting our natural assets and cultural richness. The
department is the steward of the state park system and also promotes Oklahoma
as a travel destination through many award-winning programs. To learn more
about Oklahoma Tourism visit </span></i><span style='color:black'><a
href="http://www.TravelOK.com" target="_blank"><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.TravelOK.com</span></i></a></span><i><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> or
follow us at </span></i><span style='color:black'><a
href="http://www.Facebook.com/TravelOK" target="_blank"><i><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.Facebook.com/TravelOK</span></i></a></span><i><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> or </span></i><span
style='color:black'><a href="http://www.Twitter.com/OklahomaTourism"
target="_blank"><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.Twitter.com/OklahomaTourism</span></i></a></span><i><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>.</span></i><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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